Yoenis Cespedes' return to Mets lineup could come next week against Yankees; closer Jeurys Familia doesn't want to be traded

A return for Yoenis Cespedes is on the horizon, and it could come as soon as next weekend against none other than the Yankees.

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With the Subway Series taking place next weekend at Yankee Stadium, Mickey Callaway said Saturday that Cespedes could be an option as the designated hitter in the American League park. Cespedes has not played since May 13 because of a right hip flexor injury.

“That’s a consideration. DH at-bats, we don’t get a ton of them and I think you have to take advantage of those when you get them, so that’s definitely something that we have to keep in mind,” Callaway said.

After running the bases at around 90 percent, Cespedes was set to be evaluated Saturday to determine whether Cespedes can advance to something “more strenuous,” whether it’s a simulated game or a rehab assignment. There wouldn’t be a set number of at-bats Cespedes needs before a big-league return.

“I think as we’ve talked about in the past, you have to rely on the player a little bit in these instances,” Callaway said. “Just the eye test, get our baseball people to get an eye on him whenever he starts in-game activities to see the timing, all those things that might keep him from doing well in the big leagues. Then you talk to the player: How are you feeling? Do you feel confident that you can come up and hit a major-league pitcher and lay off a real nasty slider?”

Should Cespedes go on a rehab assignment, he would play left field.

“We’re gonna get him ready to come back and be our left fielder, so that would be the position that he’s playing,” Callaway said.

Can Mets slugger Yoenis Cespedes spot a return to the lineup in his near future? (John Bazemore / AP)

ALL IN THE FAMILIA

Jeurys Familia wants to stay with the Mets.

The former All-Star closer and pending free agent continued to raise his value ahead of the July 31 trade deadline with a 1-2-3 ninth inning Saturday for his 17th save of the season.

“I always try to forget about things outside the game and I never been, like, going to be traded. This is my first time,” Familia told SNY. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know I don’t want to leave here. I want to stay here. But this is a part of the game and I will see what happens.

Familia has tossed seven scoreless innings over as many July appearances, allowing one hit over that span.

REHAB SCARE FOR RIVERA

T.J. Rivera, who is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas while recovering from Tommy John surgery, left Friday’s game after five innings with discomfort in his right arm. Callaway said Rivera was going to be re-evaluated Saturday and that it was the first time Rivera felt something other than the normal soreness that comes with rehabbing.

VARGAS ON MEND

Jason Vargas (strained right calf) pitched his second rehab game for the Brooklyn Cyclones Saturday night, allowing two runs in six innings on six hits while striking out 10. Both runs Vargas allowed came on solo home runs. Vargas threw 90 pitches, a big jump from the 64 pitches he threw in six innings on Monday for Brooklyn. He could rejoin the Mets after the All-Star break. The 35-year-old southpaw, who signed a two-year, $16 million deal, has an 8.60 ERA in nine MLB starts this season.